Positive parenting is defined as a method where the parent disciplines their children through positive reinforcement and mutual understanding. This technique serves as an alternative to the conventional reward and punishment system applied by many parents. Guardians and toddlers can both reap the benefits of this new and wholesome technique. Read on to learn more about positive parenting and why you should incorporate it into your list of parenting techniques today.
Positive Parenting: Why Every Parent Should Try It Out
An Overview of Positive Discipline
It’s 12 a.m. and your daughter won’t stop crying because she doesn’t want to go to sleep yet. You’ve had a long day, you’re extremely tired, and you just want to rest, but your child just won’t cooperate. In a fit of rage, you shout and tell your daughter to stop crying and go to sleep. Your daughter settles down and you finally get your rest. However, what is this guilt you feel in your gut?
Positive parenting is a style that contradicts the common “listen to me because I am right” authoritative parenting technique. In fact, positive parenting dictates that parents must remember their children have feelings as well. As such, there will always be a reason behind their actions no matter how unreasonable they are. In line with this, positive parenting states that parents must not aim to scold their children, but rather to educate and grow with them.
A Scholarly Look at Positive Parenting
Positive parenting is based on the work of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs called “Positive Discipline.” In 1920, Adler first introduced the concept of parenting education in the U.S. Positive discipline states that a parent must not harass, humiliate, or abuse their children, even if it is to properly educate them. In fact, the study states that parents must find a common ground with their children in order to resolve their differences while enforcing positive traits. Additionally, parents must remain calm and respectful towards their children despite whatever unreasonable fits their child may be throwing. After this, a series of parenting styles sprung from the original study on Positive Discipline.
How It Works
Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that man is good but vices and errors corrupt him. Similar to this, positive parenting believes that no toddler is truly “bad” and there are only bad actions. Going back to your crying daughter, her actions may be unreasonable but you cannot call her “bad” for a simple tantrum. As such, punishing, humiliating, and scolding her may lead to a misunderstanding. In fact, your daughter may just think that “Mommy is a meanie,” and choose to ignore you.
On the other hand, positive parenting allows both the parent and the child to grow by understanding each other. The parent will discover why their child was acting that way while the child will learn why it’s wrong to do such things. This mutually beneficial parenting style is definitely better than screaming endlessly at your child.
How to Apply It
You can easily apply positive parenting to your lifestyle by assessing your current parenting technique and making a few adjustments. There are a number of steps needed in order to fully utilize the effects of positive parenting but here are some of the basics:
- Change your mindset
- Be a role model
- Make your lectures more fun and engaging (e.g games and puppet shows)
- Talk with your children
Renowned parenting expert Mrs. Sudha Gupta talks about positive parenting and how it affects both us and our children. Watch this video by Positive Parenting by Sudha Gupta to learn more:
Overall, positive parenting is a healthy and wholesome parenting style that benefits both the parent and the child. As parents, we should understand that we too make mistakes and should correct them immediately. Incorporate positive parenting into your daily routine with your children to see the difference in their behavior.
What are your opinions on positive parenting? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
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